Infrared R&D Handbook

The Ultimate Resource Guide for Using Infrared in the Research and Development Industry

Although infrared radiation (IR) is not detectable by the human eye, an IR camera can convert it to a visual image that depicts thermal variations across an object or scene. IR covers a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum from approximately 900 to 14,000 nanometers (0.9–14 μm). IR is emitted by all objects at temperatures above absolute zero, and the amount of radiation increases with temperature.

Thermography is a type of imaging that is accomplished with an IR camera calibrated to display temperature values across an object or scene. Therefore, thermography allows one to make non-contact measurements of an object’s temperature.